THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190191
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANE HARPER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
The huge, Victorian home on Holland Road - the one with peeling white paint and massive, floor-to-ceiling windows - has had a long history.
Built around the 1880s in downtown Suffolk, it was moved to its present location - the 1600 block of Holland Road - in 1927. Since then, it's been a home to two sisters, the site of a couple of low-budget movies and even the practice spot for a rap band. It's also been rumored to have been a bordello and said to have been haunted.
Rick and Sandy Burlage, latest owners of the house, plan to give it a new identity. They hope to turn it into Suffolk's only bed and breakfast.
The couple bought the home, and two smaller houses next door, nearly a year ago and have been working feverishly to restore it.
But with both of them having full-time jobs, they expect to spend at least another year of working nights, weekends, holidays and vacations before they can get it to the point of even being liveable. And then it will probably take another two years before the Burlages are ready to open it to overnight guests.
``There's still an awful lot to be done,'' Sandy said, pointing out that the house didn't even have electricity or running water when they bought it.
In fact, the couple is practically having to rebuild the entire interior and will have to make substantial repairs to the outside. They've already had to replace about one-third of the windows, which had been boarded up.
Despite the tremendous amount of work and time required before they complete the job, the Burlages are more than happy to make the sacrifice.
``This is my dream,'' Sandy said. ``I've always wanted a big, old house.''
The Burlages sold their home in Virginia Beach and bought the houses in June from the nephew of the original owner. They've been living in one of the smaller homes and will remain there while they restore the main house.
``We decided that at some time in our life we'd retire and get a house in the country, but the opportunity (to get the right house) came before our retirement,'' said Rick, 51, a computer technician for IBM in Norfolk.
Also, the couple's two daughter - Katherine, 23, and Susan, 25 - are grown and on their own, another reason to start on their dream a little early.
Sandy, 46, a purchasing agent for Verbatim in Chesapeake, said she wants to live in the house for a couple of years before opening it to guests. She said she and her husband also hope to build an addition, expanding from three bedrooms and one and a half baths to eventually having six bedrooms and three and a half baths.
They're even considering converting the attic into two more bedrooms and another bath, which would bring the total to eight bedrooms and four and a half baths. The two smaller houses next door may bed turned into guest cottages or rented as homes. There's even the possibility of scrapping plans for the bed and breakfast and turning the house into a restaurant.
The Burlages have done most of the work themselves. They recently hired a helper, however.
Rick said he's always been a handy man and enjoys renovating homes. He and Sandy already had renovated two rental houses they owned in Virginia Beach before taking on this project.
The Burlages will work to maintain the original architecture and style, but will be making some changes - such as enlarging the bathrooms and building a laundry room - to bring it up to date. Sandy plans to decorate it with country antiques in a style she says will be comfortable and quaint.
The couple said they're confident that turning the beat-up old house into a bed and breakfast would be a welcome addition to the community.
``People stop by all the time to look at it and take pictures,'' Sandy said, adding that they're thrilled when the Burlages tell them of their plans for the house.
Others in the community seem to be just as confident that the bed and breakfast will be successful. Members of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and the Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society were especially pleased to hear about the Burlages' plans.
``I get calls constantly for bed and breakfasts, so this is going to be a real plus for us,'' said Catherine Brinkley, program manager for the Chamber. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
After Rick and Sandy Burlage renovate their Victorian home on
Holland Road, they hope to turn it into Suffolk's only
bed-and-breakfast.
by CNB